Must have book for the academic canine addict!!, 2005-05-22
As a graduate of animal management and now a student of animal behaviour, this is a book that I could certainly recommend."The Domestic Dog, its evolution, behaviour and interactions with people" edited by the great James Serpell is certainly one reference book you should not be without.
After the Introduction, the book is divided into 3 parts: Domestication and Evolution, Behaviour and Behaviour Problems and Human-dog interaction.
Each of these parts has chapters which are each written by different experts and researchers who are renowned in their fields, such as: Juliet Clutton-Brock, Raymond Coppinger, James Serpell and Roger Mugford to name a few. In all there are 17 different chapters, each focusing on a very specific area.
Naturally the book begins with the Origins of the dog: domestication and early history, followed by the Evolution of working dogs.
The chapters in the second part are: Genetic aspects of dog behaviour with particular reference to working ability, Analysing breed and gender differences in behaviour, Early experience and the development of behaviour, Feeding behaviour of domestic dogs and the role of experience, Social and communication behaviour of companion dogs, The ethology and epidemiology of canine aggression, Canine behavioural therapy, Effects of owner personality and attitudes on dog behaviour.
The third part of the book deals with: Dogs as human companions: a review of the relationship, The welfare of dogs in human care, Variation in dog society: between resource dispute and social flux, Population biology and ecology of feral dogs in central Italy, From paragon to pariah: some reflections on human attitudes to dogs, and finishing up with The hair of the dog.
As you can see this is an all encompassing, scientific book about canis familiaris (excuse the lack of italics!).
In my opinion, this book is ideally suited to students either studying animal management at a-level and degree level, it is not for the faint-hearted, but if you are serious about dogs in the scientific and academic sense, this is the ideal book for you and your assignements.
It is a clearly laid out book, with some very nice clear black and white pictures (as it is printed on nice paper).
Definitely a worthy additon to your bookshelf!